The Railways Pension Scheme Order 1994

Pension for spouse of a Member who ceased to contribute to the BR Pension Scheme before 1st July 1986 and dies on or after 1st July 1988

9B  On the death on or after 1st July 1988 of a Member who ceased to contribute to the BR Pension Scheme before 1st July 1986 and who is either;

(a) a female Member; or

(b) a male Member who was not married at the date he ceased to contribute to the BR Pension Scheme to his wife at the time of his death;

a pension shall be payable to the Member’s spouse for life.

The pension payable shall be one half of the Member’s pension at the date of his death but ignoring the exercise of any option under Rule 8E (Early Retirement Level Pension Option) or rule 20 of the BR Rules.

If the Member’s spouse was more than 10 years younger than the Member and had not been married to the Member for 5 or more years then the spouse’s pension payable under this Rule shall be reduced by 2.5% for each year by which the age difference exceeds 10 years or by such lesser amount as the Trustee may decide with the agreement of the Actuary.